Please note:

To view the Summer 2024 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2024/summer.html.

Political Science and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Joint Major

Bachelor of Arts

The Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies and the Department of Political Science have complementary interests in gender, sexuality, and women's issues. This joint major is for those who share these interests. Students are encouraged to plan their program in consultation with advisors in both departments.

Admission Requirements

Students may declare the GSWS portion of this plan upon successful completion of one GSWS course and upon application to the Undergraduate Advisor in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies.

Program Requirements

Students complete 120 units, as specified below.

Lower Division Political Science Requirements

Students complete a minimum of five courses, including

POL 100 - Introduction to Politics and Government (3)

A comprehensive introduction to the study of politics and government for both political science majors and students specializing in other disciplines. The course will explore the major concepts, methods, approaches and issues in political science, as well as the primary components of government structure and the political process. Students with credit for POL 101W may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Sanjay Jeram
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D101 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D102 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D103 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D104 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D105 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D106 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D107 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D108 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D109 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D110 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D900 Sahar Zaman
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Surrey
D901 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Surrey
D902 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Surrey
D903 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Surrey
D904 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Surrey
D905 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Surrey
F100 Remi Leger
Sep 4 – Oct 11, 2024: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Oct 16 – Dec 3, 2024: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
F101 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Thu, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
POL 201 - Introductory Quantitative Methods in Political Science (4)

Introduces quantitative research techniques in political science. Introduces important analytical and conceptual skills necessary to understand and evaluate quantitative political science research. Corequisite: POL 200W or permission of department. Quantitative.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Steven Weldon
Sep 4 – Oct 11, 2024: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Oct 16 – Dec 3, 2024: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D101 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D102 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D103 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 1:30–3:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D200 Jessica Burch
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby

and at least three additional lower division courses in political science.

Lower Division Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Requirements

Students complete 18 lower division GSWS units, including two of

GSWS 100 - Sex Talk: Introduction to Contemporary Issues in Sexuality Studies (3)

An introduction to issues in the study of sex, sexual identity, and sexual culture. Focused on contemporary theories of sexuality as well as representations in fiction, film and popular media from diverse cultural contexts. Students who have completed GDST 200 may not complete this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
OL01 Helen Leung
Online
GSWS 101 - Gender Talk (3)

An interdisciplinary study of the social and cultural construction of gender, and how ideas about masculinity and feminity shape current issues, knowledge, popular culture, and social policy. Students who have completed WS 101 may not take GSWS 101 for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
OL01 Ka Man Carman Fung
Online
GSWS 102 - Feminist Action (3)

An historical and comparative survey of feminisms and feminist activism in Western European, North American, and Global communities. Students who have completed WS 102 may not take GSWS 102 for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D900 Jennifer Marchbank
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Surrey
D901 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Surrey
D902 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Surrey
D903 Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Surrey

Upper Division Political Science Requirements

Students complete 24 upper division units. It is strongly recommended that POL 416 be included.

Upper Division Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Requirements

Students complete 20 upper division GSWS units. Courses which have high GSWS content may be considered for credit towards this plan. With the approval of the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, students may use as substitution credit one upper division course offered by another department.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs, students complete 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division overall CGPA of at least 2.0, and program CGPA and upper division program CGPA of at least 2.0 on the course work used to satisfy the minimum program requirements. FASS departments may define additional GPA requirements for their respective programs.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.